GUWAHATI, Nov 29 - The North Eastern Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of DoNER has taken several initiatives to boost its financial status.
�We have the objective to make the corporation self- sustainable so that it can gradually earn some profits. In the next couple of years, we will be able to make some profits. At least, we will not incur any losses,� said the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of DoNER and chairman of NEHHDC, AM Singh.
�There are some problems like shortage of manpower. Due to retirement and non-appointment of personnel to vacant posts, the system is not uniform. We are taking care of these issues. We need some experts in the field of marketing to compete in the market. These are the issues we are trying to address for the revival process,� a press statement quoting Singh, said.
At present, the NEHHDC has 76 employees, including those under the contractual system. The NEHHDC, which was set up in 1977, sells products worth Rs 10 -12 crore on an average. Its highest sale was to the tune of Rs 18 crore recorded in the year, 2010-11.
The NEHHDC is targeting Rs 15 crore sales in the current fiscal.
�We also need to have proper training. As our basic mandate is to promote rural artisans, we are trying our best to do it. And if we can fulfil all this, we are expecting to increase the sales by 25 per cent,� said Singh.
The official of the NEHHDC also said that the craft fairs and expos bring more sales than their permanent outlets. The corporation organises around 60 marketing events every year and provides direct marketing facilities to around 4,000 artisans across the region.
The NEHHDC has also launched its sale promotion on its new web portal, the press statement added.
